Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Cape Girardeau, MO

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting patients throughout treatment, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and complying with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The PCT also supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), continuous quality improvement (CQI), patient satisfaction, and process improvement activities. The position provides direct patient care, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and monitoring dialysis treatment, recording treatment data, responding to changes in patient condition, and reporting concerns to a registered nurse or supervisor. The technician performs machine and environmental preparation, follows infection-control practices, handles laboratory specimens, and completes patient records. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, assists with treatment-option discussions and modality transitions, and helps manage supplies and inventory. The work includes desk and computer tasks, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may also be required. The environment is that of a health care facility, with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, and possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The role also requires frequent prolonged standing and bending, occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, and frequent lifting or lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet. Assistance devices and a two-person assist program are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program to continue employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification to continue employment.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Ability to perform the described physical duties, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation; frequent lifting or lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds; occasional lifting up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet; and occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or related facility is preferred.

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis-machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform treatment discontinuation and reinfusion procedures, obtain required vital signs, evaluate patients before discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Document treatment parameters, evaluations, vital signs, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in the required treatment records and clinical application.
Monitor vascular-access pressures during treatment, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and help ensure required signatures and corrections are completed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts, compile and place paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions as needed.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under direction as permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, liaise with facility staff to support the patient experience and scheduled services, and help patients understand home dialysis products and options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with demonstrations of peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordinating transitions to patients’ chosen dialysis modalities and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and customer service standards.